The first class to be selected to the Webster University Athletic Hall of Fame will be installed on January 30, at halftime of the men’s basketball game vs. MacMurray College, at Grant Gymnasium. The Hall of Fame was established to honor those who reflect the Athletic Department’s mission of success in the classroom, community and arena of competition.
Former players, coaches, and other individuals who made significant contributions to the program, are eligible for selection to the Webster University Athletic Hall of Fame. The formation of the Hall of Fame was in conjunction with the commemoration of the first 25 years of Webster Athletics.
Athletic Director Tom Hart noted, “Intercollegiate athletics at Webster University has experienced tremendous growth and success during the past twenty five years. The time has come to begin honoring those individuals and teams that reflect an ongoing commitment to an honest and excellent experience in the classroom, the competitive arena and the community. We are excited about the opportunity to induct this outstanding Class of 2010 “Starting Five” and look forward to honoring additional Gorloks in years to come.”
The Hall of Fame’s inaugural class honors four former athletes, two who starred in two sports, and an esteemed professor who served as athletic director for one year.
Jerelyn (Guelker) Valin was a four-year volleyball standout at Webster from 1994-97. She led the Gorloks to SLIAC championships in 1994, 1995, and 1997 and was selected as first-team All-SLIAC in 1995, 1996, and 1997. She was the conference Player of the Year in 1996 and 1997. A middle hitter, Valin holds the Webster career record for solo blocks and is second in block assists, and holds the Gorlok single season record for both. Valin earned her bachelor of science in biology from Webster.
Jeff Reis made the most of his two seasons of basketball and soccer at Webster. Reis, a guard, was the SLIAC Basketball Player of the Year in 1999-2000 and 2000-01. He holds the conference single game scoring record of 53 points and season scoring average of 27.9. As a soccer goalie, he was All-SLIAC in 1998 and 1999, and Player of the Year in 1999. He holds the Webster record for lowest goals against average in a season, and is second in shutouts. The Gorloks won SLIAC championships in both sports his senior year. Reis earned a bachelors in business administration from Webster.
Niki (Martinez) Tedoni was a three-year letter winner on the Webster women's soccer team from 2000-02. She earned First-Team All-SLIAC honors all three years and was the SLIAC Newcomer of the Year, and Player of the Year, in 2000 and 2002. Tedoni was a three-time NSCAA All-Region selection. She is the all-time leader at Webster in assists, and is second in goals and points. Tedoni is currently serving as an assistant on the Webster women’s soccer team. She earned her bachelor of arts in special education and master of arts in teaching from Webster.
Patrick McSheehy was a four-year letter winner for the Gorloks in both men's soccer (1997-2001) and baseball (1998-2002). In men's soccer, he was a four-time All-SLIAC recipient and was named SLIAC Player of the Year in 2000. McSheehy also helped lead the Webster men's soccer team to its first two NCAA Tournament berths in the program's history in 1999 and 2000. In baseball, McSheehy was a three-time All-SLIAC Selection. He also currently holds the Gorloks' career records for hits, runs, doubles, triples, is second in homeruns, and third in rbis. McSheehy, who is the only two-time Webster student-athlete of the year, graduated in 2002 with a degree in management.
Dr. Harry James Cargas served as athletic director for the 1988-89 academic year, guiding the department through a transition year. Cargas was a leading proponent of sportsmanship as the foundation of athletic competition. A professor emeritus and English Department faculty member from 1970-1998, Cargas was the author of more than 2,500 articles and 32 books, including Conversations with Elie Wiesel. He taught courses on Kurt Vonnegut (a personal friend), Native American literature, Latin American literature, protest literature, among others. In 1980, Cargas was appointed by President Carter to be one of the original members of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council, which laid the groundwork for the Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C.
The Webster University men’s basketball team plays MacMurray College at 3:00 p.m. on January 30, at Grant Gymnasium in the University Center. The induction of the Hall of Fame’s inaugural class will take place at halftime of that contest, approximately at 3:45 p.m. A reception for the inductees and their families will be held after the game. For further information, please contact:
Niel DeVasto
Sports Information Director
Webster University
314-246-6989 (office)
314-630-1205 (cell)
devastnd@webster.edu
www.websterathletics.com
